Claire Duarte of Columbia, MD on Life, Lessons & Legacy

Claire Duarte shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.

Claire, so good to connect and we’re excited to share your story and insights with our audience. There’s a ton to learn from your story, but let’s start with a warm up before we get into the heart of the interview. What do you think others are secretly struggling with—but never say?
Imposter syndrome, hands down.
I think a lot of people are secretly struggling with not feeling good enough, even when they’ve “made it.” We’re all out here trying to fake it ‘til we make it… and then once we do, we still find ourselves questioning our worth. I think that’s partly because of the road we took to get there. Maybe it was messy, nontraditional, full of pivots or personal stuff we don’t talk about publicly. But it shaped us. Still, that little voice sneaks in: “Am I really good enough? Do I really belong here?”
The truth is, most of us do belong. We just forget to remind ourselves.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
Hi! I’m Claire Duarte, founder of The Columbia Mom, a hyper-local platform that helps busy parents (especially moms!) save time, feel connected, and discover the best of what’s happening in and around Howard County, Maryland. I started this brand during a transitional time in my life: postpartum, mid-pandemic, and feeling totally isolated in a new town. I created what I wish I had—a place to find community, support local businesses, and highlight everything from hidden gems and family-friendly events to inspiring entrepreneurs and real-life mom moments.

What makes The Columbia Mom special is that we’re more than just a blog or an Instagram account. On the front end, we’re community-facing. We share weekly events, reels, blog posts, and newsletter resources. But behind the scenes, we’re a business-to-business platform that helps local companies reach new audiences through social media campaigns, blog features, advertising, and creative storytelling that actually connects.

Right now, I’m in full growth mode. I’m expanding our content, launching our newest platform: podcast called MomTalk Maryland, and building bigger ways to serve both our community and the businesses we love. It’s fun, it’s chaotic, and it’s 100 percent fueled by heart.

Okay, so here’s a deep one: What part of you has served its purpose and must now be released?
The part of me that over-apologized, overshared, and constantly tried to shrink myself—that version has served its purpose, but it’s time to let her go. She helped me survive, helped me connect, helped me feel seen in moments when I didn’t know how else to exist. But now? I’m learning how to set boundaries without guilt. I’m learning that I don’t have to explain myself to everyone. I’m allowed to take up space. I don’t need to make myself small to make others comfortable. And I’m finally letting go of the fear that used to keep me quiet. That version of me got me here, and I’m thankful for her—but she doesn’t get to lead anymore.

What did suffering teach you that success never could?
Suffering taught me what success never could.

Success feels good. It builds confidence. It brings recognition. But it rarely asks you to go deep. It rarely forces you to look inward or reckon with the parts of yourself you’d rather ignore.

Suffering, on the other hand, cracked me wide open. It taught me how to sit with the uncomfortable truths. In therapy, I learned how to actually see myself clearly for the first time. Not the version I wanted others to see. Not the highlight reel. But the real, raw, unfiltered parts. The fear. The shame. The anxiety. The patterns I had picked up just to survive.

I had to sit with all of it. I had to stop numbing. Stop hiding. Stop shrinking. And that kind of work? That only happens when things fall apart.

Suffering forced me to ask hard questions. Who am I really? What do I want to let go of? What kind of life do I want to create?

It showed me that healing doesn’t always look pretty. Sometimes it looks like crying on the floor. Sometimes it looks like setting a boundary and losing someone you love. Sometimes it looks like starting over again and again.

But the beauty of it is that I didn’t stay there. I did not stay stuck in that place. I made a choice to grow. To change. To become someone who could hold both the hard and the hopeful.

And that? That is something success alone could never have taught me.

Next, maybe we can discuss some of your foundational philosophies and views? What are the biggest lies your industry tells itself?
One of the biggest lies this industry tells you is that you have to post every single day to be successful on social media.

This belief is everywhere, and honestly, it creates a lot of anxiety, especially for small business owners and creators who are already stretched thin. It sends the message that if you miss a day, or take a break, or don’t have content prepped for the next 30 days, you’re somehow falling behind. And that’s just not true.

Yes, I absolutely believe in the power of consistency. Showing up regularly does matter. Building a presence takes time and intention. But consistency does not have to mean daily. In fact, one of the most freeing things I’ve learned in both my personal brand and professional work is that your version of consistency can look completely different than someone else’s.

What matters more than frequency is rhythm. Are you showing up in a way that feels manageable for you? Are you engaging your audience in meaningful ways when you do show up? Are you building trust and delivering value when you post? That is the foundation of sustainable success on social media.

Because here’s the thing. If you’re posting every single day but burning out, throwing content into the void with no strategy, and starting to resent the process, it’s not going to work long term. You’ll either quit altogether or stop connecting with your audience in a way that feels authentic.

But if you post three times a week with intention, clarity, and creativity, and that pattern is something you can actually maintain, that’s where the real momentum builds. That’s where you start to see real results.

This idea that more always equals better is a trap. The truth is, showing up well is more powerful than showing up constantly. Your worth, your growth, your value to your audience is not tied to how many times a week you hit “post.” It’s tied to how clearly and confidently you’re showing up in the first place.

Let’s stop glorifying hustle and start redefining consistency on our own terms. That’s how you build a presence that actually lasts.

Okay, we’ve made it essentially to the end. One last question before you go. How do you know when you’re out of your depth?
I know I’m out of my depth when I start to feel like everything is piling up and I can’t catch my breath. It’s not always dramatic or obvious at first. Sometimes it sneaks in slowly. I’ll start missing emails. My to-do list grows faster than I can check things off. Content deadlines feel heavier. My brain starts to feel cluttered. I’ll sit down to work and realize I don’t even know where to start.

That’s when the spiral begins. It’s this mix of anxiety and pressure and perfectionism, and it makes me feel like I’m drowning in my own ambition. I’m still functioning, still showing up, still moving through the motions, but internally I feel totally overwhelmed. That sense of balance I work so hard to maintain starts to disappear, and I can feel it.

It shows up in small ways first. I’ll push off something that normally brings me joy, like filming or writing. I’ll stay up too late trying to “catch up.” I start overthinking things that usually come naturally. And when I hit that wall, I know it’s not just a productivity problem. It’s a signal.

That’s how I know I’ve reached my edge. When my capacity no longer matches my commitments. When I feel like I’m managing everything just barely. When the business I love starts to feel like a burden instead of a blessing.

And I’m learning to listen to that. To take a breath. To ask for help. To pause before pushing through. Because growth is good, but not at the cost of peace. And overwhelm is often just a sign that something needs to shift.

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Image Credits
Pam Long Photography

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